First Pistol (S&W Model 59)

[Thain]

I recently accquired a Smith & Wesson Model 59 (9mm), as a gift from a family freind and the weapon's original owner. It's in good condition, and I trust the previous owner to have kept it well maintained, but is definatly an older gun. (IIRC, this was one of the first 9mm pistols ever produced.) The sights seem a bit rusty, so I plan to ask the friendly local gunsmith if they can be cleaned or replaced.

This will be my first handgun, and since I'm getting a great deal on it (hard to beat free!), I can't wait to get it to the range.

Now, I've never fired a pistol in my life... assuming airsoft and Nintendo don't count... So I was hoping to get some advise from the gurus here at THR.

Anyone have any expereince with the Model 59?
Anything I should be aware of, pro or con?

 

[Starter52]

Start out with Full Metal Jacket (FMJ) bullets and brass cases. This is what your Model 59 was designed to shoot.

Many first-generation S&W Model 59s won't feed the shorter hollowpoint bullets, but the FMJ should work OK.

 

[isp2605]

The 59 wasn't the first 9mm. There were a lot of other 9mms made for a lot of years before the 59 came out. The 59 is claimed to be the first high capacity double action 9mm auto.
Here are some links:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=169750
http://www.glocktalk.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=452569

The 59 did not have a firing pin safety meaning if dropped from enough height and landing at just the right angle that it was possible for the firing pin to move forward and stick the primer causing the gun to fire. Doesn't mean that it's a common occurrence, only that if everything goes wrong that it's possible.
The 459 made some modifications to the 59 and the 5904 additional modifications. The 59 is a very serviceable firearm. Some can be picky about the make of ammo and the bullet design. Some will feed anything. Just have to try it with what you plan on shooting in it to see if yours lkes that kind of ammo.
If the sights are a bit rusty they can be easily cleaned using 0000 steel wool and gun oil. They'd have to be in really bad shape to warrant replacement.

 

[Thain]

I was thinking about some higher visibilty sights, maybe not full Trijicon tritium sights, but something with some easy to see dots.

First pistol, plus the fact that I wear glasses (near sighted), combined with the "free" price tag... It's not a priority, range time and practice is... But I am a gadget addict!

Thank's for the heads-up on the potential for accidental discharge, I don't plan on dropping a loaded gun (who does?) but its a good thing to be aware of. I don't see this being an everyday carry when I finely do get that CPL I've been looking to apply for.

(As an aside, I should have said first American 9mm auto... but I also admit I was just talking out of my rear and repeating somethign I half remembered reading on some yahoo's website. Not really somethign I care about one way or another, the point was that its an older gun.)

 

[Iggy]

I carried one for several years in LE. When my wife became a Deputy Sheriff, she swiped it from me.

When we both got out of LE, the gun was traded for something we probably didn't need.

I wish I had that ol 59 back again.

 

[middy]

I have to mention, if you do drop it, don't try to catch it! It's much more likely to go off with a bad catch than by hitting the floor.

 

[Ala Dan]

I guess you could say the first model 59's were called "wonder nines" for a reason, cuz you wondered if it would work.